By Joseph Edegbo:
Intending Pilgrims traveling to Jordan for the 2020 pilgrimage from Lagos, Osun and Ondo states, South-Western Nigeria have be charged to be good ambassadors of Nigeria while in the holy land.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commisssion, NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam gave the charge while addressing the pilgrims at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos Thursday, 5th August, 2021.
The NCPC boss warned those with the mindset to abscond not to even dare as every machinery was in place to check mate them as the entire eyes of Nigerians were on them
“The entire eyes of Nigeria are on you from the South-West zone. Don’t try to abscond as you will be caught and be dealt with.
“I came back from Jordan two days ago just to come here to address you because I place very important premium on you.
“The first three batches that just returned had no recorded case of abscondment and I don’t want to hear any reported case from you as we will not take it lightly with anyone intending to do so.
“Your state governments have spent hugely on you to travel on this pilgrimage, so don’t bring shame to them and your families if you try to abscond”. Pam warned!
He said Jordan plays an important role in the history of the Bible but assured that it has not replaced Israel as pilgrims destination.
“As soon as Israel opens it’s doors, we shall resume full pilgrimage there but for now, Israel has stiffer covid19 protocols than Jordan which makes it difficult for us to embark on pilgrimage there.
“The act that established NCPC gave us the mandate to explore holy sites all over the world. Before now we were researching on some of these holy sites before we discovered Jordan amidst the outbreak of covid19.
“We settled for Jordan because they have the same policy like Nigeria on covid19 protocol especially on vaccine. Israel has a more difficult policy that’s not flexible or in conformity with our own like Jordan does.
“We have never explored Jordan until now. We shall be exploring more countries like Greece, Egypt, Italy aside Israel” Pam explained!
On the choice of Jordan, Pam said “some significant events happened in Jordan including the baptism of Jesus. Moses who suffered with the Israelites from Egypt saw the Promised land on Mount Nebo before he died and was buried there.
” It was in Jordan that Esau and Jacob met at the River Labbok and reconciled. The decendants of Lot lived in Jordan. I can go and on. So we have enough evidence to show how Jordan was picked because it has over 70 different holy sites and more Christians (3%)/than Israel who practiced Judaism.
“Jordan is both where the old and new testaments met. Where John The Baptist baptized Jesus and so many others”.
He said the President of the Christian. Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson who led the delegation as the spiritual leader was full of praise on the Jordan trip and said ” he was blessed and received spiritual impactation as a result of the holy sites he saw.
According to Rev. Pam, pilgrims are expected to behave themselves very well and assured them that all preparations for their comfort has been put in place and further assured them of adequate security, accommodation, feeding and protection while in the holy land
